Are you Saved or Enlightened?

There is a lot of talk today about being enlightened. It seems whatever the faith or belief we find someone asking, if we have been enlightened, saved, found the way, been to the mountain, awakened, or seen the light?  The list at times seems endless and so does the asking.

 

Many faiths seek the same inner peace for the soul.   There are writings and prayers available to all who seek them.   Below one from Taoism – one from Christianity - each invites us to look at ourselves and not others; because it is only there we will find what we are looking for.

Taoism:

The Ego is a Monkey catapulting through the jungle;

Totally fascinated by the realm of the senses,

it swings from one desire to the next,

one conflict to the next

one self-centered idea to the next

If you threaten it, it actually fears for its life

Let the Monkey go

Let the Senses go

Let Desires go

Let Conflicts go

Let Ideas go

Let the fiction of life and death go

Just remain in the center watching

And then forget you are there

 

 

Mother Teresa:

“If we were humble, nothing would change us – neither praise nor discouragement.  If someone were to criticize us, we would not feel discouraged.  If someone were to praise us, we also would not feel proud.”